University of Florida, Marina Nakamura (6th year, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy *at the time)

I stayed at the University of Florida in Florida, USA, for four weeks, where I learned about pharmacy education at the university and the American healthcare system. Through observational visits to several hospitals and pharmacies affiliated with the University of Florida, I was able to deepen my understanding of the differences in the roles of pharmacists in the United States and Japan.

What impressed me most during this training was the independent work ethic of American pharmacists. I had the opportunity to observe the Department of Pharmacy in various facilities, and in every one, I saw pharmacists confidently expressing their opinions and fulfilling their roles within a relationship of trust with doctors and other healthcare professionals. I also had the chance to interact with students during their practical training. Their interactions with patients and other healthcare professionals were very independent, and I sensed a strong desire to learn proactively. The pharmacy education that fosters such pharmacists seemed more practical and clinical compared to that in Japan.

Beyond the training, I had many valuable experiences, such as reuniting in Florida with an exchange student who had been to Japan and becoming friends with local pharmacy students and going out for meals. Thanks to the many interactions I had with my apartment roommates, I was able to go about my daily life without any trouble, and I am grateful for the encounters with people across different academic years and nationalities.

Having completed my practical training in Japan and gained a good understanding of the Japanese pharmacist system, I feel that this training was particularly rewarding because it took place during my sixth year. I believe that learning about cultural differences through a foreign country's healthcare system is an invaluable experience, not only for those who will work as pharmacists in the future but also for those who will not.